Wednesday Workshop on Jan.8

Q:What is your favorite way to eat mochi?

Participant 1

At the beginning of this year, I ate ozoni. It’s traditional Japanese food. There are

differences in the type of ozoni between Kansai and Kanto. In Kansai, especially in

the Chugoku region, we eat round mochi, not square.

In Kanto, it’s usual to eat square mochi inozoni.

Facilitator

So, ozoni is your favorite way to eat mochi?

1:58: Participant 1

Yes, that’s right.

 Facilitator

Me too. This year, I tried Kansai-style ozoni for the first time because we visited Kyoto. The restaurant served white misobased ozoni, which was really good. I also had Karasumi for the first time. Have you ever tried it? It was my first time, and I really enjoyed it.

I was satisfied with Kansai-style ozoni. Thank you,S-san. In Yamaguchi, what

shape of mochi is used in ozoni? Is it round or square?

Participant 1

We eat round mochi.

Facilitator

I see. How about the soup? Is it misobased or soy sauce-based?

Participant 1

It’s a clear, soy-based soup.

 Q:If you could do kakizome, what would you write and why?

 Participant 3

I don’t like doing it.When I was a school teacher, on January 8th or 9th, all the students in the same grade would gather in the gym to do kakizome.

Yes, but it was troublesome because some students spilled ink on the floor. So we teachers prepared zokin: cleaning rag and buckets.Some students were excellent, but others struggled. For those who struggled, we gave advice and encouragement.They all tried 書き初め enthusiastically.

Some students went on to participate in contests in Chiba Prefecture.

Q:What is the most exciting or disappointing thing you’ve ever found in a fukubukuro?

Participant1

I’ve never bought a fukubukuro until now.I don’t like buying fukubukuro because I don’t know what’s inside. If possible, I prefer to buy something necessary for me or something I specifically want.As you know, we don’t know the contents of a fukubukuro. It’s kind of a surprise, but I don’t like that. Maybe I’ll try it in the future.

28:51:FacilitatorIn the future? Are you sure?I don’t want to buy fukubukuro either. A long time ago, I bought one out of obligation, but it was a failure.Nothing I liked was inside, so I never bought one again. These days, we have gift card systems where you pay 10,000 yen and can choose items from a booklet or digital screen. I think that’s better.But it’s not exciting—less excitement, I think. Things have changed, and as for physical 福袋:lucky bag, it feels ridiculous if it ends in disappointment.

Q:What is your opinion on the decreasing use of New Year’s decorations in Japan?

Participant 1

It’s part of a trend of changing traditions. The number of family members is decreasing year by year. In the past, it was common to have large families, including grandparents or even great-grandparents, who helped maintain these traditions.

But now, with smaller families, younger generations aren’t as familiar with Japanese traditions. It’s also harder to find time to maintain decorations during the busy New Year’s season.